water in Baptisme covering the earth of mans body it being plunged therein was further signified the sanctifying and renewing again of the body through that Spirit which by a first moving on the surface of the waters gave being in the creation to all things of the same Elementary substance which should be as certainly performed as mans body came forth of the waters a sure testimony of which was evident in the head and others the first fruits of the same by this then as I conceive hath been confuted the first error shewing that Infants and many others upon these grounds are not fit matter for a visible Church or Congregation and though I have in this exceeded an intended brevity yet in things so greatly Important it will I trust be excusable for this seriously considered will put an end to those bitter long disputes and voluminous Treatises about the Law and Gospel Gods seeing or not seeing sinne in reference to the one or the other Covenant c. The Error on the other hand is in some that conceive them only fit which for knowledg and practise are seemingly more eminent whereas at first a Gospel conviction and need of a Christ and a voluntarie submission to his government for a further Instruction through doctrine and discipline was a good ground of admission For Christs Kingdom in the Church is a Kingdom of Grace long-sufferance and meeknes The Subjects whereof at first are very rough hewed not polished stones weak in knowledge and many times more in practice Those Ministers and strong Christians then intrusted ought to bear the Infirmities of the more feeble carrying these Lambs in the bosome of Love leading gently and guiding these younglings in grace like good Pastors so truly knowing the state of their flock as to distinguish them by their names natures and manners that so he might accordingly feed them with knowledge and understanding Not in civill contentions but Evangelicall conclusions but how rare are such at this present what plenty of those shepherds that God so * passionately and pathetically reproves in Ezekiels time that he said Eat the fat and clothed themselves with the fleece of the Sheep but did not care to feed so as to strengthen the weak heal the sick binde up the broken bring again that which is driven away neither sought that which was lost but with cruelty and rigour did they rule them The Lord himselfe then the great and living Shepheard there promiseth to supply their place and doe that for his Sheep which was neglected by those evill Shepherds that is to say to lead them into green Gospel pastures refreshing them with the sweet and pleasant springs of salvation strengthening the weak healing the sick c. As it followeth excellently in the same Chapter The next thing then to the matter is the form of this government which was first those Ministeriall officers as to be ordinary and perpetual were Pastors to instruct and teach Deacons to collect keep and disburse the publike stock Elders among themselves to over-rule and end all civill and occasionall differences Seers to watch over each particular Member which was to present as need required the true state of things to the Church there was also a forme of Sacraments one of Baptisme of which is already spoken One other and main end of which was to distinguish all visible members within from them without putting such into a visible capacity thereby of those benefits before exprest to which then was added the Sacrament of the Lords Supper through which those before baptized were made to drinke into that one Spirit which spiritually quickned it by faith in the blood of Christ running through the veins of the whole body typically represented by way of Communion in the Element of wine to the very senses of the faithfull all those benefits of Christs death and resurrection which upon frequent meeting they were publikely to hold forth in remembrance of the same After these next in order was the forme of doctrine that is to say first To acknowledge God even that Father of whom originally and effentially were all things either temporall or spirituall according to whose supream will all the distinct families in heaven and earth was both ordered and named As also that Jesus Christ his first begotten son was that person by whom all things was made is now preserved redeemed and shall again what belongs to him be restored for which cause he descended suffered ascended according to the Scripture sitting now at the right hand of God untill all enemies are made his footstool which once performed he shall then deliver up the kingdome to God the Father which then shall be all in all to the whole body filling every part according to their measure with his owne fullnes as he now doth the head for the effecting of all which glorious promises in the behalf of the holy visible invisible militant and at last triumphant Church That there is one infinite invisible incomprehensible most omnipotent Spirit which is that of the Fathers communicated to the Son and from him as head to the whole body The fift was the form of discipline which was this every Officer in their proper place through meeknes and love by exhortation instruction reproof and if need require with consent of the Church through excommunication to use their utmost endeavour to present such who have voluntarily submitted unto their Government blamelesse in the day of Christ And then the last of all is the supream end namely the preservation of each Saints propriety in their spirituall names priviledges and benefits of an eternall life so as each member in their proper place may according to the effectuall working and power which is in the measure of every part receive the increase of the body unto the edifying it selfe in love untill we all meet together in the unity of Faith and that acknowledging of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the age of the fulnesse of Christ Thus as briefly as I could hath been shewed also the Governours Government matter forme of doctrine and discipline with the distinct and supream end of this Ecclesiasticall Government of Christ The third thing promised to be considered was this In what respect these two Governments so diametrically opposite as heaven and earth may yet agree and dwell together in a Nation City Family or person First they may agree in this that the son of God is constituted and by publicke inauguration is Crowned and anoynted King and Head of both these principallities and powers with their severall Instruments and weapons whither Carnall or Spirituall Secondly they may accord in this that the spirituall deserves the right hand of fellowship since all sublimary things had a being with the externall for ends subservient to this which when it shall perfectly be accomplished in the Nations This exterior Government shall be dissolved and cease The Kings and Rulers of the Gentiles
body c must be dead because of sinne when the spirit is to live for a better righteousnesse sake And so I come to the second particular the Government Ecclesiasticall which imediately receded the other in the Infancy thereof The instruments and formes whereof hath also beene various before the time of Christs fleshly presence the reason of which was the good pleasure of the Fathers will the divine mystery of his Grace since revealed to us in the fullnesse of time for the most part hid in d him whose dispensations works alwayes appeare most perfect in the end During the infancy and minority of the mysticall body of Christ the Church then begun it seemed good to him here and there to enlighten and by a secret and inward call to seperate and segregate from the Common masse of mankinde such as should hold forth according to the measure of faith then dispenced the word of life That in divers wayes manners e and formes of discipline were made instrumentall in their generations to congregate as time and place afforded the children of truth Gradually first preparing and then through union of affection couching them in their due place as so many pollished stones upon that precious corner and first foundation stone of the spirituall Temple Christ Jesus I purpose not here for brevity sake to write severally of the particular Formes in those Ages past but rather with the * Authour of that forenamed Pamphlet I shall fall in with his Method in that Forme since as a Government for us more practically imitable It was evident then according to Scripture when the full time appoynted of the Father for the spirituall liberty and age of the Church was come He sent forth his Sonne into the world cloathing him with humane flesh and in the substance and shape of man put him under the Law That in his pure flesh in mans stead and for his benefit he might actively and passively performe what God or man by any Law could possibly require and though he knew no sinne neither was a transgressor of any Law yet he being instrumentall in the Creation of man the first and supreme * head of man by relation a * brother to man and by a peculiar right had an interest in man it was both just and reasonable that he onely as the fittest person should principally transact the affaires of man and for that end he was by God in the behalfe of all fallen man imputed a sinner numbred amongst transgressors made a curse by suffering upon the Crosse as a Thiefe and Murtherer that so thorough this Gods peculiar ordinance and acceptance he might no more remember or punish eternally the transgressions committed against the first Testament as also to give a sure ground of future hope that the bodies of the faithfull one day shall be perfectly redeemed from the power of sinne death and the Devill unto which by a righteous sentence they became with others most miserably captivated with all to give good assurance to all such by the death and sealing bloodshed of this Sonne of God which was appoynted to be both the testator and Mediator of the new Covenant t eternally stablished upon sure promises their spirits once cleansed from the filth and guilt of the old May now by a new and living way thorough the vaile of his flesh have a free passage into the most holy Sanctuary and presence of our heavenly Father in the glorious liberty of the Sonnes of God and for that end this our great high Priest and Apostle of that faith which wee should professe during the time of his abode upon earth he made it his own because the Fathers worke to dispence light according to his will in matters of this Nature that so by it he might publiquely gather unto himselfe all those children of God that were capable Subjects for an audible administration and for that cause he was pleased to elect not onely twelve principall but many others to whom he did impart those mysteries that they might afterwards as good Disciples and Scribes before instructed communicate the same Upon whom after his ascention he poured out his spirit in the dispensation of extraordinary gifts that so by them the foundation begunne and forme prescribed for such a sprituall structure might successively be carried on in all succeeding times untill the very top stone should be layed and grace grace cryed thereunto It s easily conceived then by that 's past who were the Mr. workemen and what was the matter for this building but for evincing a double mistake in our pretended Mr. Builders It s necessary the matter of it be a little further considered It being affirmed by some on the one hand that all persons in a Nation yea infants are fit materialls for this Caelestiall Fabricke The folly of which opinion appeareth in that it is not onely contrary to the practice and direct precept but also the true nature and end of this institution by Christ Besides what benefit can acrew to Infants and others almost as uncapable to be made Members by any initiating ordinance since they are in no capacity through naturall weakenesse visibly to doe or receive any good neither hath God at any time or anywhere as is falsly by them premised engaged through an unwarrantable use of Baptisme to wash away originall sinne Regenerate visibly unite to himselfe and save Infants for why then doth not answerable effects follow Time quickly shewing that many thousands so baptized become Abhominable and Reprobate to every good worke Strange therefore it is to see how these men have been pusled to evade the cleare light of this Scripture Go discipline and baptise and that other Scripture he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved but to these persons it seemeth fulfilled if they injoyne others to professe faith for them which visibly have none as if one mans bare profession which is not probably reall were with God meritoriously saving for others in like manner are they pusled about Circumcision which they say Baptisme cometh in the roome of when its clear to them which wil understand that Circumcision was no initiating ordinance for a Church and Gospel fellowship It being but a signe of an externall Covenant and stipulation made with Abraham and his Seed for a revive of the first Testament touching a civill and unblameable conversation in the flesh For sayth God my Covenant shall be in your g flesh So that all Israel after the flesh by the Law gendering to bondage were not Israel after the spirit borne of the free woman gendering to a spirituall liberty And this I am induced verily to believe for these Reasons viz. First Because all those that partook of Circumcision by Scripture proof were rigedly bound to a personall and perpetuall performance of the Morall Law in reference to the outward man h which our Saviour yet testifieth none of them did * keepe nor indeed could as
THE True Primitive State of CIVILL and Ecclesiasticall Government Discussed and Cleared Also a VVay briefly propounded to reconcile the Saints by what names now soever distinguished In Unity of Doctrine and Discipline according to our Covenant in a Government neerest to the Word of GOD With all lowlinesse and meeknesse with long suffering forbearing one another in love Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace Ephes. 4. 2 3. For by one spirit are we all baptized into one body whether we be Jews or Gentiles whether wee bee bond or free and have been all made to drink into one spirit 1 Cor. 12. 13. Imprimatur March 12. 1648. Henry Whaley Advocate London Printed by Robert Ibbitson in Smithfield near the Queens head Tavern 1649. TO THE Right Honourable the Great Councell in Parliament now Assembled and the Councell of State Right Trusty and Right Honourable Senators I And not I only but many farre more considerable have been Spectators of those Intricate Mazes and indefatigable troubles which you as our Worthies have for above these six years past undergone not to be paralelled to any time save that of Israels deliverance from Pharaoh out of the House of bondage which you as so many Noble Instruments by the strength of the Arme of the Mighty God of Jacob have performed to the present accomplishment for us as great a deliverance For the which blessed be the God most High as also for that after so great winnowing there yet remains so considerable a number of you found faithfull to your trust and though this may be esteemed by you Honourable Worthies a boldnesse in the presenter neer unto presumption to mention your Honours Names in this Epistle for which I have nothing to plead for in excuse but this namely that your Honours are neerly and greatly concerned in the Subject matter of this ensuing Discourse which if He that is the Head of all Principallities and Powers the Mighty Counsellour by whom Princes decree just things shall strengthen and guide you to follow I and not I onely but all Conscientious men and true Christians shall therein have their desires and you their prayers So resteth your most humble and devoted Servant not worthy to be named as considerable D. P. To the Reader I Had a great dispute in my spirit in this very nick of time whether I should speak or keep silence that not only because in these evill dayes vanity and troth not truth is either through prejudice or willfullnesse approved and extolled amongst men but also through a sence of my stammering imbâ—cility at being unlearned in humane Sciences I was afraid to shew in publick this my opinion For I sayd in my thoughts that dayes should speake and multitude of yeares should teach wisedome but since I understood that it is the inspiration of the Almighty that gives understanding I durst not smother that little light under a Bushell which he hath as a Talent given me to improve for his Glory and the Common good upon this ground then I have adventured to cast my Mite into the publique Treasury presenting these ensuing Lines to thy serious perusall the principall theame and substance of which is to shew how this our tottering Fabrick both in Church and State may againe be re-setled upon the sure Basis of a true Primitive Institution And here if in this transaction I have not so managed it as a businesse of so great importance doth require I hope my former acknowledged weakenesse will plead for me a favourable excuse if not acceptance And lest a string of reproofe by any over-winded expressions in this my Booke may sound harshly in the eares of some so as to hinder the melodious harmony of an intended Union by me held forth I shall endeavour againe to loose it by an ingenuous acknowledgment For I professe as in the presence of God I am no enemy to any mans person being sorry to see much more to use either the name of a Leveller or Presbyter having in both very loving friends if I could by any other names distinguish them to a vulgar understanding which yet are justly to be blamed and withstood because they go not the right way to a civill or Ecclesiasticall Peâ—ce There is onely one word that hath escaped me that probably may give occasion to some to take offâ—nce and that is in the 15. Page towards the end where quoting the Prophet Hosea it is said That God hath justly given up these men that is to say some of our conceived wise Diviners and pretended Prophets to folly and a dog raging madnes rather then a rationall or Christian Spirit And heere I could wish I might not say so of some which bite and snarl at their brethren not shewing yet any true reason wherefore but God forbid I should say so of all and truely because of offence if it could have beene timely prevented I would have said so of none Yet is this a terme the holy Spirit hath used in way of reproof of some of the same Function though in another case when he calleth them both dumbe and greedy dogges and againe for feare of mistake because I have desired there might be no imparity of Persons in the Ministry in reference to humane learning that therefore I should be thought an enemy to learning no certainly I could wish the Universities might bee kept up and maintained in their former luster that so as God shall bring forth by the hand of providence we may by such a common and comendable gift still finde instruments that in some cases might bee more usefull then others either in Church or State And lastly though I have highly commended the Excellency of this outward Forme which indeede ought to be observed yet I hope none is so ignorant as to thinke that the true glory and beauty of Christs Church is not more principally within but since both are concerned in reference to the outward and inward man therefore it was that Israels deliverance out of Aegypt was a deliverance in an outward way of Worshippe for both upon which ground it is not to be doubted that through the great power of our Redeemer wee shall at this time not onely have a deliverance in the inward but also a freedome of the outward man else should wee have nothing wherewith voluntarily to tender as a Worshippe to God For these Reasons as also for some occasionall faults in the Printing I have contrary to my intended purpose presented thee with this Epistle wishing a favourable construction of the whole at least or of my good intention herein And so I shall ever rest Thine to command in the Lord D. P. ERRATA Page 1. line 28. for Counties read Countries p. 3. l. 14 for surplace surface p. 20. l. last leave out thirdly page the last line the 25. r. Sectaâ—â—â—s truly so called THE True state and forme of Government Civil Ecclesiastical discussed cleared NOt long since